the attacking force, coming upon their rear in the darkness just as they
were receiving a check from the brave defenders of the camp, and the
Captain poured in volley after volley so unexpectedly that the French
broke, and began to retreat before their foes. The Major, grasping what
had occurred, turned his defence into a brave attack, and the result was
that in a few minutes the enemy was in full retreat, and soon after,
this in their confusion became a rout.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

In a month's time, in spite of weakness, the Colonel had sufficiently
recovered to resume the command of his regiment, and Dick was the hero
and idol of the men.

But poor Mrs Corporal Beane was jealous and unhappy--jealous because
the Colonel made so much of Dick; unhappy on account of the Corporal,
whose recovery was very slow. But the Colonel, she owned, behaved very
well to her. He said that he would not interfere much, as he looked
upon herself as the boy's mother, but sooner or later they would find
out who Dick's parents were, and that he should stay with the regiment,
but he must be looked after well.

"As if he could be looked after better," Mrs Corporal said to her
invalid husband. "I do look after you well, Dick, don't I?"

"Yes, mother; of course you do," said the boy.

"And love you too; and you love me and father, don't you?"

"Why, you know I do," said the boy, laughing, "and Colonel Lavis sent
for the tailor this morning, and I was measured for a new uniform like
the men in the band."

"Bless us and save us!" cried Mrs Beane. "Well, that is handsome of
him, but like a drummer, Dick, not with gold lace?"

"Yes, scarlet and gold," said the little fellow proudly; "and I'm to
learn to play."

It would be a long story to tell of the terrible fights the 200th were
in all through that terrible Peninsular War: but Dick was with the
regiment and through it all, not fighting, but with the doctor and the
men whose duty it was to look after the wounded, and many were the
blessings called down upon the head of the brave boy, who seemed to bear
a charmed life, as he ran here and there with water to hold to the lips
of the poor fellows who were stricken down.

But all things have an end, the bad like the good, and in the days of
peace the 200th were being feasted at one of the towns by the Portuguese
gentry and some of the English merchants who had been nearly ruined by
the war.

Dick was in it all, for he was strong and